Phone app creates restaurant loyalty cards to feed the hungry

Monday

Jun 23, 2014 at 12:47 AMJun 23, 2014 at 12:16 PM

FRAMINGHAM – Dan Napierski says he was was inspired to start Phfeast, his online venture to feed the hungry, after learning about the families with children in the area who are being sheltered in motels.

“Many of these children, and others, are dependent on food pantries and school breakfast and lunch programs for their meals,” said the 37-year old Framingham resident.

“ I wanted to build a platform that would allow local restaurants and their guests to provide a free dining experience to these families.”

The Web and mobile app phfeast.com. which launched May 1, lets users earn points at participating restaurants. The points go toward free meals for underprivileged children and families.

Napierski, who has a wife, son and daughter, has been working out of the Venture Development Center at UMass Boston to set up the program.

Restaurant customers earn points through Phfeast, similar to a conventional rewards program. When they hit a set goal, the restaurants will make donations or give meal vouchers to local food pantries.

“Phfeast is the only restaurant loyalty program where guests earn meals for nearby families in need,” said Napierski. “It provides a platform for restaurants to provide a dining experience to people facing food insecurity in their communities, while at the same time to connect with and reward their loyal customers.”

He told the Boston Business Journal that so far nine Boston restaurants have signed on to the program.

In order for the startup to be profitable, Napierski needs to sign at least 1,000 participating restaurant locations, according to the BBJ report.

His target goal for this year is to sign 50 locations, with about 5,000 repeat users visiting the site

He has used his own money for the startup, but hopes to seek outside funding later this year.